It is here we hold our celebrations
Auspicious affairs that draw the people
Marching bands
Parades
Ticker tape
Homecoming for the high school
And our hometown sons
Glorious heroes
Daughters too
If we think she so deserves
There is irony in such pageantry
Seeing Main Street
S t r e t c h e d
Before our eyes
Bejeweled
With color and decoration
Crews have washed
In days before
Darkened sidewalk
Collected the bottles
Liquor and beer
And swept
Glass, broken
With criminal intent
Gaze Down the side street
Down the hill
Into our residences
Children play on --
Lawns green, tree-lined
Streets
One Way.